Telephone apparatus.



W. M. BYE-NBS. TELEPHONE APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED APR.18, 1914.

Patented Mar. 9, 1915.

THE NORRIS P TERS ca, FHDTOLITHO., WASHINGTON,

WILLIAl/I M. BYRNES, OF V AIL, IOWA.

TELEPHONE APPARATUS.

Application filed April 18, 1914.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, WILLIAM M. BYRNES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Vail, in the county of Crawford and State of Iowa, have invented new and useful Improvements in Telephone Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in telephone apparatus and has particular application to a switch for use on rural telephones.

In carrying out the present invention, it is my purpose to provide a switch for rural telephone apparatus whereby the local batteries will be automatically disconnected from the line upon the depressing of the receiver hook and wherein such switch will remain in open position irrespective of the upward movement of such hook.

It'is also my purpose to provide a switch of the type set forth which may be manually operated to closed position succeeding the removal of the receiver from the hook whereby the local battery will be connected with the line to supply current thereto.

A further object of the invention is to provide a switch of the class described which will embrace the desired features of simplicity, efficiency and durability, which will operate effectively for its intended purpose and which may be installed at a minimum expense.

l/Vith the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter set forth in and falling within the scope of the claims.

In the accompanying drawing: Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through the easing of a telephone equipped with a switch constructed in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 2 is a view in edge elevation of the switch removed from the casing, the same being shown on an enlarged scale. Fig. 3 is an enlarged elevation of the switch.

Referring now to the accompanying drawing in detail, 1 designates a casing such as is employed to house the mechanism of rural telephone sets, while 2 indicates the receiver arm pivoted within the casing and projecting outwardly of one side wall thereof and working within a slot in such side wall. The outer end of the arm 2 is forked or bifurcated to provide the usual receiver hook adapted to support the receiver 3. 4t designates the local battery located within the Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 9, 1915.

Serial no. 832,781.

bottom of the casing 1 and adapted to be connected to the line to supply the latter with current.

Located within the casing 1 above the receiver arm 2 and suitably secured to the side wall of the casing through which the receiver arm projects is my improved switch. In the present instance, this switch comprises conducting strips 5, 5 disposed in parallelism and connected with each other by means of an insulating block 6, the latter serving to insulate the strips and maintain the same spaced apart. These strips are fastened to the inner side walls of the casing 1 above the receiver arm 2 and are dis posed in a vertical plane, while the lower confronting extremities of such strips are equipped with contact points 7 composed of platinum or other suitable material. Pivotally mounted within the side wall of the casing adjacent to the lower extremities of the strips 5, 5 is a horizontal stem 8 having the inner end thereof equipped with a yoke 9 surrounding the lower extremities of the contact strips 5 and carrying a roller 10 disposed behind the innermost strip and adapt ed to engage such strip in the upward swinging movement of the yoke 9 to bring the contact points 7, 7 into engagement with each other. The outer end of the stem 8 is equipped with an appropriate form of handle 11 composed of fiber or other insulating material. Suitably connected with the yoke 9 and depending therefrom is a strap composed of a length of wire or other suitable material having the lower end thereof looped as at 13 and surrounding the adjacent portion of the arm 2. The contact strips 5, 5 are connected in series in the conductors leading from the local battery 4 of the particular telephone to the line wires.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, the construction, mode of operation and manner of employing my improved switch will be readily apparent. Assuming the switch to be installed in a telephone and the receiver on the hook, it will be seen that the stem 8 will be in a substantially horizontal position and the contact points 7, 7 separated. W'hen it is desired to connect the local battery with the line the receiver 3 is removed from the hook or fork whereby the arm 2 swings upwardly and in the upward swinging movement of the arm 2 the loop 13 is relieved of the influence of such arm.

The handle 11 is now depressed thereby swinging the stem 8 with the effect to elevate the yoke 9 on the inner end of such stem whereby the roller 10 engages the adjacent contact strip 5 and so moves the platinum point 7 on the lower end thereof into engagement with the point on the adjacent arm thereby placing the battery in circuit with the line. When conversation is ended and the receiver placed upon the hook, the arm 2 swings downwardly and engages the loop 13 with the effect to swing the inner end of the stem 8 downwardly and thereby relieve the contact strips of the influence of the roller. Should the receiver be removed from the hook accidentally, the arm 2 will ride upwardly within the loop 13 in the strap 12, while the stem will remain inactive thereby maintaining the switch open irrespective of the position of the arm 2.

The inner contact spring or strip 5 adjacent to the lower end thereof is formed to provide superposed seats 14 15 so that when the roller 10 is elevated under the action of the handle 11, such roller will engage the upper seat and hold the contact points in engagement upon the release of the handle 11, while when the roller moves to lowered position under the action of the strap 12, such roller will engage the bottom seat thereby limiting the swinging movement of the stem.

While I have herein shown and described one preferred form of my invention by way of illustration, I wish it to be understood that I do not limit or confine myself to the precise details of construction herein described and delineated, as modification and variation may be made within the scope of the claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

In telephone apparatus, a local battery, a switch for connecting said battery to the line and comprising a pair of contact strips disposed in parallelism and normally spaced apart, the outer surface of one of said strips having a pair of seats formed therein and spaced apart along the length thereof, a stem pivoted between its ends for swinging movement, a yoke on one end of said stem embracing said contact strips, a roller journaled in the limbs of said yoke and movable from one seat in the particular contact strip to the other, and a handle on the remaining end of said stem whereby the latter may be swung to move the roller from one seat to- Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

